In 2019, the Alltech Lexington
St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Entries
for annual parade, as well as vendor applications for the Irish festival are
now being accepted.

The parade and festival will be
held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, in downtown Lexington. The Lexington Division of Parks and
Recreation produces the annual event with community support from
local businesses and cultural organizations led by the Bluegrass Irish Society.

“The Bluegrass Irish Society
was formed in 1980 and our first of order of business was to put together the
city’s St. Patrick’s parade,” said Megan Moloney, the society’s president and
parade chair. “On our 40th anniversary,
we look forward to recognizing those who were integral to starting what has
become one of the city’s longest-running annual civic events.”

The daylong celebration begins
at 8 a.m. with the 13th annual Shamrock Shuffle to benefit Lexington Habitat
for Humanity. At 10:45 a.m., the “Blessing
of the Keg” at the Alltech tents at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse plaza
kicks off a free festival with entertainment from Irish dancers and musicians. The parade begins at 1 p.m. on Main Street.

Applications for parade
participants, concessions and festival vendors can be found online at http://www.lexingtonstpatsparade.org/.
Concession vendor applications are due
by January 25. Applications for vendors for the Irish festival are due February
8. Parade entry forms are due by March
1.

Since 1980, the Bluegrass
Irish Society has sponsored Lexington’s St. Patrick’s celebrations with the
help of members and volunteers from throughout the community. For information on free membership in the
society or to volunteer to help with the parade, visit http://bluegrassirishsociety.org/
and complete the online application.

Follow @LexStPatsParade on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for
information, event updates and day of coverage. Parade participants and
attendees are encouraged to share their photos online, tag @LexStPatsParade and
use #LexStPats2019.